Saturday, September 18, 2010

I've read that the reason people have a mid-life crisis can be explained by this analogy. They were just young people who 'hopped on the train of adulthood and never get a chance to get off. Then they pause, and realise, that their successes never reached their goals'.

That train sounds so final. It makes me feel like once I make a decision/choose a pathway, it will be so final and so much weight will rest of it being the right one. Where will I end up after placement? Will I solidify an OK job or a great job. I wouldn't even know the first place to start in getting the job I want. And I'm pretty scared that I need to put myself out there and be pro-active. That scares me. And I'm one of the confident ones. O gee.

I know where I want to go. Thats the easy part. Getting there? Isn't quite as easy.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Enabling someone to make a change relies completely on their willingness to do so... They will not willingly forfeit their treat/ behaviour in favour of the something less superior.You're only going to achieve this through motivational counseling. Which is basically advertising...

Saturday, September 11, 2010

You have to bring them up and avoid bringing them down.Loosing weight is hard, they will need all the encouragement and positive thoughts available.

Saying "You're fat, you need to loose weight" "Can't believe you let yourself become like this" ... isn't going to help. The person already knows this. They are probably hyper-aware of it. They may be depressed about it already. We, as dietician should NOT contribute to ill-health.

I strongly believe this.

In practice, i am always going to provoke change through encouragement. "You are so capable of doing this" "I believe that you can do this" "I can't wait to share in your success".

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

I remember, in the first few weeks I arrived on campus, i met some third year dietetics students. I called my mum that night and admittedly confessed that I wanted to be just like them. I remember repeating 'They're so collected'. I am nowhere near that image of a third year student. Im still not collected. But maybe... a little bit more knowledgeable? (Here's hoping)

Ive started to think i may resemble a book in second hand bookshop. Not because I smell funny (although I do detest doing the laundry) but because we're quite similar. This book and I. For instance, I'm never where i should be, my geography is all over the place, my edges will always be crumpled and sometimes I need a bit of self help.

But on the other hand, like the books at the old bookshop, all the knowledge is still there. The order is sort of there. But the charm is most definitely there. Whilst not charming yet, id like to think ill get there. Im just kind of hoping thats enough. You know, knowledge and charm. Because id like to keep believing that the second hand book shop will give something that the newer book stores can't.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Whilst other parents in the room were asking me 'How university is going?' one father was telling me about his bowel movements. So much for small talk?

He has suffered with cancer for many years now. Many types of cancer. I don't know the specifics but I do know he had intestinal cancer and only has 20% of his GIT remaining. He's casually chit chatting about his B12 injections, supplement regime and how he has to be aware that any complacency can lead to becoming severely malnourished.

I'm on my third glass of sangria by this point. So when he mentions 'Ileum' I mentally high five myself for recognising a word. But by the time he reaches Jujenum, I'm shaking my head with confusion. I realise this as I'm now inserting 'Mmmm' where words existed just minutes before.

Whilst nodding over-enthusiastically I realise two things....

1. I probably should have stopped at one glass of Sangria.
2. I have a lot to learn.

Monday, August 23, 2010

For dietitians, knowledge is undoubtedly important. In fact, you would achieve as much as a frog in a sock without knowledge. But if information is the piece of machinery, then communication and relationship building are the batteries. Being unable to teach, communicate or verbalise what you know is about as useful as having a bird without wings. I don't know about you, but I'd consider a bird without flight, a bit of a bird-failure. And a dietician without communication skills, would probably hang out at all the same parties.

Here is a quote by someone famous, which I may or may not have stolen from brainyquotes.com (Hint: I did).

'The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people' - Theodore ROOSEVELT

Of all people to trust, I thought roosevelt was a pretty solid option to go with. If you're going to listen to anyone, listen to someone who inspired Dale Carnegie, author of the American classic How to Win Friends And Influence People. Both men advocated the need for great interpersonal skills. Both played by the same key principles. And that is; give honest and sincere appreciation, be genuinely interested in other people, smile and be a good listener.

Its believed that being a good dietician involves knowing how to help people. Being a great (NAH, brilliant) dietician is about more than just wanting to effect change.

Communicate the information in an easy to understand AND you genuinely care. And if you can handle that, then forgot AA Batteries. Success will put you on the door list AND want to hang out. You're in.

Can't guarantee this blog/journal will be school appropriate or will turn out to be what is supposed to. I am just going to get some things down, try not to think about it too much and hope my internet doesn't crash mid-post.